Class Notes

Announcements

1960s

Virginia Buscemi, ‘66, Spanish, and her husband, Leonard, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their life is filled with love, including their two sons and two granddaughters.

Dorothy Mueller, OSF, ‘66, Elementary Education, a Daemen trustee, celebrated her 50-year Jubilee with the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity.

Edith Wyss, OSF, ‘66, Education, a Daemen trustee and provincial minister of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, was honored with the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart Franciscan Charism Award in November 2013.

1970s

Jeanette Spina,’73, Art Education, retired in 2005 as an art instructor from the Utica City School District and has been appointed to the City of Utica Ethics Board and Quality of Life Committee by Mayor Robert Palmieri. She has advanced degrees in medical illustration from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Mass., and conflict resolution curriculum from Leslie University in Cambridge.

Maureen Kellick ‘74, Fine Arts, was named a 2013 Niagara Woman of Distinction in recognition of contributions to the community. Director of marketing and public relations at Artpark, she is a Leadership Niagara alumna, and supports the arts and cultural organizations of the Buffalo- Niagara and U.S.-Canada regions.

1980s

Maria Dillon, ‘81, Medical Technology, has been promoted to director of hospital operations at Laboratory Alliance of Central New York. She will continue to oversee operations at the company’s largest rapid response laboratory at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, a position she has held since 2011.

Kevin Gannon, ‘83, Business Administration, vice president at M&T Insurance Agency, was featured in Buffalo Business First’s “Who’s Who in Insurance.”

Lynn Marinelli, ‘85, English, has been appointed director of intergovernmental relations at the Western New York Office of Empire State Development. She is grateful for this exciting opportunity to serve the community.

1990s

Paul Michaud, ‘99, Physical Therapy, has been promoted to assistant deputy commander for clinical services at Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

David Brothman, ‘90, History and Government, received an Ed.D. in educational leadership in December 2013. His dissertation topic was “The Leonard Bernstein Artful Learning Model: A Case Study of an Elementary School.”

2000s

Bryan Wickes, ‘01, Physical Therapy, has accepted a position as a physical therapist at Western New York Physical & Occupational Therapy Group. He brings 13 years of PT experience to his position as director of the group’s Salamanca office.

Geoffrey Gatza, ‘02, Accounting, was featured in a Huffington Post interview, “The Art of Conceptual Poetry.”

Scott Fiege, ‘06, Business Management, joined forces with three local amateur brewers to start the Rusty Nickel Brewing Co., a microbrewery in West Seneca, N.Y. In addition to his role in sales/marketing at Rusty Nickel Brewing, he has been a part of several entrepreneurial projects since 2006.

2010s

Monica Kosior, ‘12, Business Administration, signed a contract to play women’s basketball with C.S. Universitatea Cluj Napoca, which competes in Romania’s Liga Nationala. She is the second former Daemen student-athlete to play professionally.

Johnathan Snyder, ‘12, Adolescence Education: Social Studies, is a freelance sports writer covering Western New York high schools and colleges for The Sun newspaper in Hamburg, N.Y.

Cameron Garrity, ‘13, Graphic Design, was featured in an interview on Judge Penny Wolfgang’s radio show “On Target.” In October 2013, he presented “The Power of Puppetry” at the TEDxBuffalo Lecture Series, where he discussed the Geppetto Festival, its relationship with Daemen and its mission to bring a new life to puppetry in Buffalo.

Samantha Kowalski, ‘13, Social Work, accepted a full-time position in December 2013 as a service coordinator at Health Force of Western New York, where she will be working with the elderly and TBI population.

John Munger, ‘13, Nursing, accepted a new position in October 2013 at the Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

David Morales, ‘13, Business Administration, has been promoted to the position of international business development specialist at Liberty Pumps.

Katey Portner, ‘13, Business Administration and Marketing, has accepted a position as an account specialist.

Kaleigh Ratliff, ‘13, History and Government, was a student supervisor for a Daemen excursion to World War II sites in Poland.

Aishah Rudolph, ‘13, Social Work, has accepted a position as a youth advocate at the Center for Community Alternatives in Syracuse, N.Y. She is also dedicated to her volunteer work as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).

Holly Tomasello, ‘13, Human Development and Special Education Advocacy, was featured in a brief video sharing her exciting new roles on the Daemen campus as special education graduate assistant and student disability advocate.

Births

2000s

Kristen Klyczek, ‘00, Physical Therapy, and her husband, Mark, welcomed their third child, Alexa Lynn, to their family on July 25, 2013.

Engagements

1990s

Carol Ellen Kowalik, ‘96, English, and her fiancé, Frederick Happy, are engaged to be married on July 25, 2014. The couple will reside in Kingston, Ont. after the wedding. She is currently a librarian at Olean Public Library in Olean, N.Y.

2000s

Sara Schupp, ‘06, Elementary and Special Education, and Adam Rivers, ‘06, Art Education, were engaged in August 2013 at the Color Run in Buffalo. A July 2014 wedding is planned.

Ashley Austin, ‘07, Art, and Christopher Abate were engaged on Oct.27, 2013 at the (Charles) King Farm during a photo shoot with Ashley’s mother.

Stephanie Rose, ‘07, ‘09, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, was engaged to Paul Calicchia in December 2012. A June 2014 wedding is planned.

Lindsay Jeffries, ‘08, ‘10, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, is engaged to marry Joseph Taylor in September 2014. She is a physical therapist at CP Rochester.

2010s

Maegan Johnston, ‘10, Early Childhood/Special Education, is engaged to marry David Nuwer in June 2014. Maegan is a teacher at the Cantalician Center and David is a warehouse supervisor at Kenny Enterprise.

Jennifer Kuczmanski, ‘12, Nursing, is engaged to marry Jeffrey Reynolds, ‘13, Physician Assistant Studies, in August 2014. Jennifer is pursuing a master’s degree in Daemen’s Adult- Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program and is employed as a registered nurse at Suburban Dialysis. Jeffrey has started his career as a physician assistant at Lakeshore Orthopedics.

Weddings

1960s

2000s

Gina Smith Pozderac, ‘06, Psychology, married Harris Pozderac on Aug. 10, 2013 at St. Martin of Tours Church in South Buffalo, N.Y. Residing in San Francisco, Calif., Gina completed a doctorate in clinical psychology at Argosy University in the San Francisco Bay area and is a postdoctoral resident at the Association of Professionals Treating Eating Disorders. Harris is a wine director and works at Atelier Crenn, a Michelin two-star restaurant.

Joseph Caccamise, ‘09, Business Administration, married Katie Johnson on Aug. 9, 2013. After their honeymoon to Punta Cana, the couple now resides in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

2010s

Marcie Anne Cook, ‘10, Childhood Education, and Stanley Kwieciak III were married on Aug. 10, 2013. The bride is a substitute teacher in the West Seneca Central School District and at Nardin Academy, and the groom is a partner at Kwieciak, Kwieciak & Kwieciak, LLP. After a trip to St. Lucia, the couple now resides in Buffalo, N.Y.

Breanne Finucane, ‘11, Physician Assistant Studies, was married to Daniel Jeffrey on Sept. 28, 2013. The bride is a physician assistant at the Knee Center of Western New York, and the groom is an architect at Kideney Architects. They reside in Snyder, N.Y.

Amanda Buckley, ‘12, Accounting, married Shawn Mooney on Aug. 23, 2013. Amanda works for Lumsden & McCormick LLP, and Shawn is employed at Pfannenberg Inc. After a honeymoon to Jamaica, they are residing in Tonawanda, N.Y.

Erin Gustason, ‘10, ‘12, Doctor of Physical Therapy, married Joshua Smith on Sept. 21, 2013 in Olean, N.Y. Erin is employed as a physical therapist at Olean General Hospital, and Joshua is an accountant at Dresser-Rand.

In Memoriam

1950s

Marie E. (Sciandra) Gueth ‘52, Natural Science (Chemistry), passed away on Oct. 22, 2013. Marie worked as a medical technician and was an active community volunteer. She loved cooking and spending time with her family. Contributions were made in Marie’s honor to the Ronald McDonald House of Charities.

Mary “Mimi” J. (Hassett) Turner, ‘57, Art, passed away on Sept. 2, 2013. Mimi played a leading role in arts organizations and the local theater scene. She taught drama and produced and directed plays at St. Mary’s Academy, Nardin Academy and D’Youville College. Married for 51 years, she is survived by her husband, Douglas Turner, Washington columnist at The Buffalo News, two sons, Christopher and the Rev. Albert, and a daughter, Mary Julia.

1960s

Rosemary R. (Reina) Callea, ‘61, Education, passed away on Jan. 18, 2014. She taught in the Buffalo Public Schools for 32 years until retiring in 1995. Rosemary won an award for the best home garden in Kenmore, N.Y., and was an accomplished artist and a woman of great generosity.

Barbara Dlugosz, ‘62, Chemistry, passed away on March 18, 2013. Memorials were made in her honor to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Sister Mary Dolata, CSSF, ‘63 Education, passed away on Sept. 22, 2013. Efficient in her work and generous with her time and skills, she was a business studies teacher in the Diocese of Buffalo and was also a high school guidance counselor and director of guidance.

Bonny E. (O’Neil) Sartoris, ‘63, Business Administration, passed away on Aug. 30, 2013. Memorials were made in her honor to Hospice of Hamilton.

1970s

Dawn I. Pierce, ‘70, Elementary Education, passed away on Aug. 23, 2013. She was an educator and administrator in the Harpursville School District, and an advocate and member of many organizations.

Michelle Ross, ‘75, Elementary Education, passed away on Feb. 16, 2013 after a 13-year battle with cancer. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister and grandmother. Memorial contributions were made in her honor to Hospice.

Dorothy Burden, ‘78, Sociology, passed away on July 28, 2013. She is survived by her close family members, including siblings, nieces and nephews.

John A. Digati, ‘79, Psychology, passed away on July 8, 2013. He was a psychologist and drug and alcohol counselor at Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

1980s

Stanley D. Webb, ‘84, Business Administration, passed away suddenly on March 15, 2013. He is survived by his loving brother Deidre, and also many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

1990s

Veronica “Vicki” Oldro, ‘95, Social Work, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 8, 2014. She retired in 2006 from the Salvation Army in Jamestown, N.Y., where she was a social work case management specialist. Her true love was being a homemaker, a devoted mother and a Christian. She is survived by 11 children. Memorials were made in her honor to the Randolph Fire Co.

David M. Buyer, Daemen adjunct business professor, passed away on Sept. 2, 2013. Active in the Orchard Park community, he served on the Conservation Board, the Town Planning Board and was a town councilman. He is survived by his wife, children and sister.